Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi-Chapter 57: Threads and Webs (Part 1)

"Such martial arts, I really don’t know how he cultivated them..."

Nie Luncai toyed with the heavy iron ball in his hand, his thoughts drifting.

This iron ball, which he had examined countless times over the past seven years, was confirmed to be originally just ordinary Hundred Refined Steel, from the Treasure Sword in his collection.

But after compression, the material of this iron ball had become nearly indestructible, even his True Qi could hardly damage it.

Every time he saw this iron ball, Nie Luncai couldn’t help but recall that breathtaking, unforgettable night. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"You really like this thing?"

A voice suddenly came from behind, carrying a hint of laughter.

"Ah?"

Nie Luncai was startled, turned sharply, and saw a familiar figure, wearing a silver metal mask, standing with hands behind his back.

"Greetings, senior!"

Without a word, he deeply bowed, his attitude extremely respectful, while secretly clicking his tongue in surprise.

This old monster’s martial arts are becoming more and more unfathomable, he didn’t even hear the sound of the door opening.

As a dignified Grandmaster, this was indeed a bit unbelievable.

"Hmm, rise and speak."

Zhang Yao waved his hand and sat down on a nearby chair, casually asking:

"The intelligence you gathered in these three years?"

"Please wait, senior."

Nie Luncai replied promptly, immediately opened another secret compartment, took out a thin booklet, and handed it over respectfully.

Zhang Yao took it and began to read seriously, looking through it word by word.

"Hmm..."

After reading for a while, Zhang Yao’s brow slightly furrowed, a tinge of disappointment surfacing in his heart.

"Once again, it’s these baseless rumors, no trace of the Immortals whatsoever..."

Similar rumors, tales, and strange events, he had heard countless times over the past twenty years.

Every cautious investigation ultimately resulted in disappointment, either encountering local charlatans or hearing misinformation spread by ignorant people.

Throughout twenty years, not once were any credible findings found, after witnessing so many occurrences, he could even now easily identify things amiss, saving even the effort of investigation.

Only those that were indeed valuable and puzzling would prompt his personal attention.

Nie Luncai stood aside, hands tied, stealthily observing Zhang Yao, secretly thinking:

"What’s this old monster having me gather these tales of Immortals and manifestations of divine beings for?"

"Could it be he still believes Immortals truly exist in this world?"

In his heart, he felt the Silver-faced Old Monster probably lived too long, becoming invincible in the mortal realm, leading to such extravagant hopes for immortality.

Just like some Emperors in history, with top-notch martial and literary achievements, leaving their mark through history, holding power for many years, naturally desiring eternal youth.

The martial arts of the Silver-faced Old Monster could be called a martial arts legend, it wouldn’t be exaggerated to say he was the Emperor of the Martial Dao, besides he’s surely advanced in years, having such unrealistic thoughts seems quite normal.

"Ah!"

After finishing the booklet, Zhang Yao casually shattered it into powder, sighed, stood up and said:

"You did well these three years, keep up the good work."

"Yes."

Nie Luncai lowered his head to respond, secretly heaving a sigh of relief.

When he looked up again, he found that the Silver-faced Old Monster had already left, disappearing into the night within a few steps.

......

A month later.

In Yongzhou, at the Xie Family Ancestral Residence.

The lavish study was brightly lit, two silhouettes reflected on the window.

Inside the study, a man in a black robe, with a silver metal mask on his head, sat behind a large redwood desk, perusing a booklet.

The current Old Patriarch of the Xie Clan, respectfully served a cup of Ginseng Tea, then cautiously attended by the side.

If outsiders saw this, they would likely be utterly shocked.

Who in the world doesn’t know that the Xie Clan is a thousand-year-old noble family, generations of Grandmasters, in its prime even having three or four Grandmasters simultaneously, dominating the entire North.

There aren’t any thousand-year-old Dynasties, but there are thousand-year-old noble families!

As the leader of the Northern noble families, many times even the Emperor had to actively seek the hand of a Xie Clan daughter to strengthen ties.

The current Patriarch of the Xie Clan, also a Martial Arts Grandmaster, was famously disdainful of nobility, even the founding ministers of the court, he didn’t hold in regard.

But at this moment:

This proud and imposing Patriarch of the Xie Clan was serving an outsider in his study like a servant.

If word got out, no one would believe it.

"...Hmm, is there more?"

Zhang Yao put down the booklet, and asked a question.

If it were someone else, he wouldn’t ask, but the various little schemes of this Patriarch Xie were quite plentiful, sometimes bringing him little surprises.

"There is."

As expected, the Patriarch of the Xie Clan took out a book from his robe and handed it over:

"I found this a few days ago in the archives of the Liu Clan in Jinyang, recording an interesting incident of an ancestor encountering an Immortal eight hundred years ago."

"The book is very old now, a lone copy, and can’t be lent out, so I personally transcribed it once, just for today to present to you, sir."

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Zhang Yao’s eyes immediately lit up, accepting the book, he said, "Thoughtful of you."

"I dare not."

The Patriarch of the Xie Clan kept his posture very low.

A thousand-year-old noble family, having witnessed the rise and fall of Dynasties, enduring countless turmoils, yet standing strong and incorruptible, often knows best how to maximize benefits and minimize harm, being adaptable and flexible.

And among these noble families, Zhang Yao was most satisfied with them.

In the long span of hundreds to thousands of years, only noble families with long histories could leave accurate records, not vague stories or incomplete legends.

And encountering the Xie or Liu Clan, whose ancestors supposedly had witnessed the existence of an Immortal, was an even more unexpected delight.

"Hmm..."

Zhang Yao perused the book in his hand, occasionally showing a thoughtful expression, pondering without a word.

Over hundreds, even thousands of years, the reference value of these books had long diminished, yet they somewhat allowed him to gain more understanding of the world of the Immortals.

If by chance he could encounter records of Immortal Sects or something similar, that would be a great gain, unfortunately, he hadn’t encountered one yet.

Including the book he held:

The book recorded that an ancestor of the Liu Clan, eight hundred years ago, during a leisurely outing, accidentally met an Immortal in the mountains, who was carrying out solitary cultivation. Because of his elegance and eloquence, he was invited to stay for a few days.

During those days, the Liu ancestor was greatly enlightened, witnessing various Immortal Techniques, and finally, upon departure, he received an Immortal Date, after consuming it, he lived to a hundred and four years old.

The book included very few detailed depictions of the Divine Power and Skill of that Immortal, only proving the existence of Immortals eight hundred years ago.

Following those clues now to search would be as futile as waiting for someone to return on an abandoned bridge, the chances of success were too slim.